How to easily scan QR codes that are already saved on your phone

Sometimes you get stuck if someone sends you a screenshot of a Quick Response (QR) code to scan, thinking you would need another phone to scan the code. Well, that's still very much possible but you no longer need it to actually open a QR code because both Android and iOS devices now have built-in features that let people easily open QR codes from screenshots right from their phones.

However, it's important to know that the actual scanning process varies depending on your device. Apple calls this feature "VisualLookUp" code detection while on Android, it's powered by Google Len. Although, it's not a separate branded feature on Apple devices, and it remains a simple process that can be used to open a QR code that's already saved on phone for users of both operating system (OS).

How to scan a QR code that's saved on your phone

Scanning on Android

To be able to scan a QR code saved on your phone, you must have the picture of the code in your Gallery or Google Photos. If the picture is not there, just screenshot the QR code and it'll be saved in your photo app. Now, go-to the photo app and open the QR code. Tap the “Len” icon that looks like a camera icon with sparkles or with search, as it's shown in the image below.

Note, the “Len” icon varies on Android depending on the version you're using. Sometimes, you might find it like a camera icon with sparkles and you might also find it like a camera icon with search. It's also important to note that the Lens can be at bottom toolbar or at the top right corner of your screen. All you need to do is open the QR code screenshot and tap on your screen to bring out the Len icon.

After clicking on the Lens icon, Lens will detect the QR code and a page will pop out from beneath the screen, giving you options to view the QR code's content, such as searching the image, asking AI mode, copying text, following the link, or translating the code. Simply select the option you wish to engage with the QR code's content.

Circle to Search

Circle to Search, powered by Google Len, is one of Google's feature that uses Google Assistant and Gemini to lets users search anything on their screen by circling, tapping, or highlighting the object. Circle to Search is now common on the latest smartphone flagships like Samsung Galaxy models and Google Pixels.

If your Android phone is fairly new, Circle to Search is likely already active by default. If not, enabling it is simple as long as your device supports the feature. Head to Settings, then type "Circle to Search" into the search bar. If your phone is compatible, you'll see a toggle switch that lets you turn on this convenient way to scan QR codes.

Once you're good to go with Circle to Search, long-press the home button or use the search gesture to wake the feature, then circle the QR code in the screenshot. After that, an immediate Google Search bar will appear from the bottom of your device's screen, along with a little animation. You can use this pop out page to engage with the content of the QR code as explained earlier.

Scanning on iPhone (iOS)

Follow these steps to successfully scan QR codes that's already saved on your iPhone:

• Open the screenshot in your iPhone Photos app and tap the QR code detection icon that appears in the bottom-left corner.
• You can also use the Camera app itself if you're scanning live to detects codes in the viewfinder.
• But if it's just a saved screenshot on your iPhone, then open “Photos” >> “Find the Image” and the QR code should show a yellow-bordered box with a link banner you can tap.
• Tap the “Link Banner” to engage with the code contents.

Alternative, you can simply use Spotlight/Visual Look Up to scan the QR code. All you need to do is long-press the QR code within the photo, and if it's recognized, a link prompt appears. You can then follow the link to engage with the QR code contents.

Final Notes

If you still can't use neither built-in option I have explained, a quick fallback is uploading the screenshot to a free QR decoder site like webqr.com. This website allows the scanning of QR codes on any devices—be it desktop, laptop, or phone, so it's handy if you're sharing a QR screenshot in an email or on a computer. You can also use it create QR codes for an article to verify if they scan correctly before publishing them.

However, it's worth noting that if you're uploading QR codes to a third-party site is not ideal for anything sensitive. Even if you're using the Google or Apple's built-in options, it's important to stay alert whenever you're interacting with codes and watch out for common phishing warning signs to protect yourself from QR code scams, and only scan codes that come from sources you trust.